Turn-by-turn GPS navigation ready, but blocked by Apple's SDK terms

According to an MSNBC report, we'll be waiting a long time until the iPhone 3G's GPS feature lives up to its true potential. Three of the biggest GPS companies say they're interested in working with Apple, and one has even run their application on the device. But TomTom, Garmin, and Magellan won't reveal any firm plans.

"We have made our navigation system run on the iPhone; it looks good and works very well," said Dutch-based company TomTom, in a statement to MSNBC. "We will have to look more closely to Apple's strategy before we can say more about what kind of opportunities this will bring us."

We reported previously that Apple may developing their own solution, and recent beta releases of the iPhone OS 2.1 contained references for enhanced GPS support needed for these apps. Apple's Greg Joswiak was quoted as describing this navigational Apps as "complicated."

If TomTom already has its application up and running to its satisfaction on an iPhone, why don't we see it for sale in the App Store? Unfortunately, no one is answering that question right now.

Originally posted on iPhone Atlas.

[chrgeorgeson]

"If TomTom already has its application up and running to their satisfaction on an iPhone, why don't we see it for sale in the AppStore? Unfortunately, no one is answering that question right now."

I thought the reason was because of the App Store Agreement about allowing constant location data transfers to be unaceptable to Apple standards or somthing along those lines. I'm probably wrong on that though.

-Chris

[dude7895]

Because if apple can't make enough money off of the product its not worth it to them.

[MadLyb]

Welcome to a closed model.

You can have third party apps as long as they don't step on our (or our providers') toes. I bet either Apple or AT&T, or both, are going to offer an extra service tied to GPS...for a low monthly fee of course.